Nauti read my fic. *Faints.*

Back now. Ahem. What I meant to say is, gee, thanks. I really appreciate the review. ;)

Thanks, Deb! Glad you enjoyed it.

She is! Hard to match up S7 Martyr Buffy with S1 Perky Buffy. Thank goodness for fanfic. ;)

Don't worry, Upset - there's a sequel in the works! Just working out a few final scenes, then I'll start posting it.

Hey, thanks! And yeah, I kinda think they were meant to be ...

Thanks, Kathleen! Glad you enjoyed. And what can I say? I like my Spike dangerous. ;)

Thanks, Missy - and I'm working on a sequel. I agree that they can't stay apart forever ...

Thanks, Dee. I'm working on a sequel. ;)

Thanks, Lynda! Glad you enjoyed ... and there's a sequel in the works, but don't let that stop your imagination ....

Thanks so much! And yeah, I kinda hate that they didn't run away together, but I'm working on a sequel. ;)

Hey, thanks! Glad you enjoyed.

Yes, I think this is the life lesson where Buffy finds out that sometimes bad decisions work out better than we could have ever imagined. ;) I hear you about Bs. As., though ... right now, anywhere is better than the frozen MidAtlantic!

Thanks, Xela. Glad you liked it!

Working on a sequel - I hate to say good-bye, too!

Yup, he liked her alright. And I'd agree that Spike would pretty much ruin a girl for all other guys - lol!

Thanks for reading - and don't worry, there's a sequel coming, set just a few years in the future, so no granddaughters. LOL!

I know ... Thanks so much for reading & reviewing, Joyce.

Thanks - and I appreciate the reviews!

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

Glad you enjoyed!

I think that, in this 'verse, everyone has this kind of cultivated ennui about vampires. And so Spike is charmed by this sheltered, idealistic young woman who somehow is tough or curious or stupid enough to stick around. Willow and Gunn might be in the know, but they're not his friends. And so Buffy gets close - and I think Spike leaves because that's unfamiliar and intimidating. Anyway, thanks for reading & reviewing.

So glad you liked it!

Thanks! And there's a sequel in the works. ;)

Thanks for reading - and you're exactly right, he did get spooked.

No begging required! I'm working on the sequel. ;)

Thanks for reading! And I hated to tear them apart, but it just seemed impossible ... right now, at least.

Thanks, Inzey!

I'm working on one now! And I know, it isn't a terribly satisfying end to the story.

Thanks!

Thanks, Inzey!

Hey, glad you like it!

Glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for the review!

Canon? Hmmm ... I've heard that word before, but I seemed to have completely forgotten the meaning. ;)

Thanks!

I can't decide if anyone has tried to kill him or not ... glad you're enjoying.

It's a nice point, DoS. Hadn't given it much thought. I can only say that had Gunn & Willow sat her down for a long talk, the story would be much shorter. LOL! Thanks for reviewing.

Thanks - and I take your point about the lack of detail.

Yeah! Thanks for reading.

Thanks ... more to come.

Thanks. I'm uploading the next chapter for validation right now.

Exactly! The song is about the show. "I'm not in love with Twiggy, 'cause I'm in love with Cathy McGowan." And so on. I like the idea of a character that has such rabid fans singing about BEING a fan.

To your questions about the plot: there are Slayers. Buffy won't find out anything about them in the next two chapters. For now, this is purely about the dynamic between Buffy & Spike, and my curiosity about whether Spike would still see something in Buffy if he hadn't gone off seeking the Chosen One. And I've always been curious about how Buffy would turn out if the basic outline of her life was the same, but untouched by vampires until she'd grown up.

Still, I'm not going for anything deep here ... and this might not be your thing if you're into, well, intricate plots.

Thanks - and actually, I didn't know it was a cover until I wiki'd it for this story.

Nope. Spike is her very first vampire ... and she's gonna be stunned. Thanks for reading!

I know - painful to imagine, really. Then again, Spike loved her in that horrible bridesmaid's dress, so I think he'll see beyond the outdated denim. Thanks for reading!

Yup, our favorite vampire is still a ... well, vampire.

Hope you will like the next part - thanks for reading!

Glad you're enjoying it.

Thanks! More is en route - hope you enjoy the next part, too.

Thanks - it was up on BS Central until the site went whopperjawed. Fingers crossed that Mia is able to save the site! In the meantime, I'm posting it here because I've got the sequel almost done, so stand by ... fresh stuff is in the works!

Very little from the Angel crew, though I cast Gunn as the bouncer. Mostly because I didn't follow the series closely enough to be confident I had the characters' voices down - but that's an interesting question to consider ...

Thanks - I love the idea that Spike is drawn Buffy for being Buffy, not for being the Slayer. But it will change the dynamic between them ...

Thanks! It's in the queue waiting for approval, so it shouldn't be long now. Hope you like it!

Thanks - another chapter is en route. It should show up in the next day or so. Enjoy!

Glad you're enjoying it!

Thanks! Hope you like where it goes from here.